Sweden open Olympics campaign with a victory

Wait is over finally! Sweden and Czech Republic open the Olympic ice hockey tournament in the wonderful Bolshoy Arena, whose external roof is a big scoreboard with teams’ flags shining in the Sochi night.

Both team confirmed the preview and align the announced rosters, with Gudas and Hanzal not dressed for Czech (Ales Hemsky is on ice instead), while Sweden has defender Alexander Edler suspended and Marcus Johansson in the stands. Czechs are eager for a revenge after the last clash at the Olympic, an humiliating 7-3 suffered in the semifinal at Turin 2006 by the future Olympic champions. Russian crowd tribute an genuine ovation for star Jaromir Jagr and after some seconds in the game it’s clear neutral spectators are cheering for Czech Republic. The first real shot come after 4 minutes, from the blue by Jonathan Ericsson, but Kovar rebounds , blocking instead a dangerous initiative by Ekman-Larsson a couple of minutes after. Zidlicky-Alfredsson duel in front of the cage promises a lot of sparks during the game. On the other side Lundqvist warms his pad deflecting on Voracek and Nedved shots. Sweden is more offensive in first minutes, but Czech play very well in the counterattack. In the middle of the first period Sweden takes the lead: with the extra attacker (penalty called for Erat) Swedish managed to keep the puck despite Czech protests for a some puck interceptions, the puck circle well until Ekman-Larsson shot, Erik Karlsson deflects the puck with no chance for Kovar. At 11 Kovar is back in action during Sweden power play, well deflecting a shot by Loui Eriksson. But right after the end of the penalty, Sweden double the score, Czech Republic defense is not reactive on Patrik Berglund and also Kovar isn’t perfect on the shot: 2-0 Sweden after 14 minutes. A good choral move by Czech gives Hadamczik troop the first power play – out Tallinder – but Sweden penalty killing is very solid. At 17 Alfredsson misses a good chance arriving one second after the puck served in the front of Kovar cage for the last chance in the first period, not really 20 minutes to remember but very solidly played by Sweden. Czech pay the loss of concentration in the 2^nd goal action.

Sweden needs 50 seconds to score the third goal: Alexander Steen covers the Kovar visual and Henrik Zetterberg shot finishes in the net. Hadamczik replaces Kovar with back-up Alexander Salak. Sweden gains another power play – Zidlicky out – and the fourth goal: a missile by Erik Karlsson with no chances for Salak. Czech Republic is completely groggy and Backstrom has another great chance while a dejected Hadamczik open the arms as to say: what I can do? Looking in his notes some magical solution. After 7 minutes finally some work for Lundqvist, very reactive in deflecting a shot by Cervenka. But the Rangers goalie can only extend an arm trying to stop a angry shot by Marek Zidlicky, finalizing an action well prepared by Patrik Elias. It’s the best momentum for Czech pushed by the crowd, Lundqvist made a difficult save on Kaberle, Salak is great on Backstrom and on the counterattack her majesty Jaromir Jagr find the right angle for the second goal, validated after the video replay for a suspect foul by Plekanec on Kromwall. Note for the readers: Sweden is again on ice, but Czech Republic get out from the well where was fallen for about 30 minutes, not improving his level but better using the emotive wave. Passed the tsunami of minute 30, Sweden takes again the control of the game and Salak has to work to avoid the fifth goal, including using a bit of luck when the Gustav Nyquist shot hit the post, the same destination of a Michalek try some seconds before. Period finishes with Czech Republic threats Lundqvist cage with Plekanec and Elias. Hockey is definitely strange: Sweden had practically closed the game scoring two goals in the first five minutes but suffered a real two minutes black-out let Czech Republic “resurrect”.

Plekanec gives Lundqvist a “welcome back on the ice” after 10 seconds in the third period but goalie blocked. Same Lundqvist is lucky when he lost a puck on a Roszival shot but no one is ready to take advantage. Czech Republic takes now the control of the game, playing finally with more organization earning 3 consecutive power play but without real dangers for Sweden goal. Sweden awake around minute 50 with a shot by Berglund and a great save by Salak on Loui Eriksson, before a classy move by Kaberle finalized with a weak shot. A couple of difficult saves by Lundqvist seals a third period conducted by Czech Republic…. too late to emend an nightmare start. 

In the mixed zone Henrik Lundqvist admitted: ''After they got that second one, I got a little nervous. I had to do some work in the third, but overall it was a good game for us. Special teams were really good. We had good energy. I thought our first half was our best half, after that they really stepped up their game and made it a little tougher for us. When you lose the puck in the wrong areas against this team they are really quick to strike. This was a game in which we were looking to get a really good start and get three points (in the standings), so mission accomplished."

His colleague Jakub Kovar try to explain the bad start: “Probably not the best start for us. The first goal was a lucky goal. I should have stopped the second goal, after which it was pretty tough to get back into the game. They had a pretty good traffic in front of the net and they had three similar goals. They executed well. It was nice to hear the crowd supporting us. I feel sorry for them that we let them down. Some of the players are a bit ill, maybe have a flu, but I hope it is nothing serious."

Tomas Kaberle analyze the mistakes the Czech team made in the game: "We just spent too much time in the first half of the game in our zone. It's not easy when you get down 4-0 and have to battle back. We have to play the next game like we played the second half of the game, get more shots and there should be a better result."

At the press conference, both coaches are positive: Alois Hadamczik: It’s hard to tell why our first period was so bad, we have to work hard to improve our approach to the game. I believe that we are a very high skilled team, so I’m not fear for the future, I think we performed well tonight despite the loss. Ondrej Pavelec for sure will be our starting goalie in the next game.

Par Marts: I’m happy for our first part of the game, we demonstrated to be a skilled team. Then we should have tried to play more for scoring another goal then to defend. I had decided the lines long time ago, then the injuries of Franzen and Sedin changes things, but the guys that get in the team have all my confidence.

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